Page 107 of Saving Tatum (Trace + Olivia 4)

I’d gotten my paper done for Professor Taylor and I had two more to finish by next week, on top of tests.

I was pretty sure that when I took my last test I’d immediately fall over asleep…or dead. One of the two, because I also couldn’t remember the last time I ate. And I really needed a coffee. Someone! Get me an IV of caffeine, stat!

As if he heard my thoughts, Jude’s head rose and he rubbed his tired eyes. “I’m going to Griffin’s. Y’all want anything?”

“I’m coming with you!” I jumped up, stuffing everything into my backpack.

“I’m going home,” Rowan yawned, standing up and packing her things away as well. “I’m so tired that I keep reading the same sentence over again. This isn’t benefitting me. I just need some sleep at this point. See y’all later,” she wave

d, heading away without a backwards glance.

Jude and I headed out to the parking lot, neither of us talking. We were both too tired to form sentences it seemed.

When I turned to head towards my car, he cried, “Whoa,” and grabbed my hand.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re riding with me,” he stated, entwining our fingers together and leading me to his truck.

“I should really take my car,” I told him, trying to get him to let go of my hand. “It’ll be easier.”

He stopped in the middle of the parking lot and looked down at me. “I’ve seen you barely any this week. Even if we don’t talk, I just want to spend some time with you.”

How could I resist that?

“Okay,” I smiled. I understood where he was coming from. I felt the same way. Being in his presence was enough to make me happy. We didn’t have to talk or do anything else. I thought that might be how you knew you’d found the one. It wasn’t one single thing that attracted you to them. It was everything.

“Did you finish your paper?” Jude asked as he pulled out of the library parking lot. “The one you shadowed me for?”

“Yeah,” I smiled, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I’m really happy with how it turned out.”

His gaze flicked to me. “Do you think you might let me read it?”

I shrugged. “Sure.” My cheeks started to heat. “I hope you like it.”

“If you wrote it, I’ll love it. I always love what you write,” he grinned crookedly.

“How do you know what I write?” I asked curiously.

Jude chuckled, scratching his jaw. “I happen to find reading the school paper highly entertaining.”

“Really?” I asked, my eyes widening.

“No,” he shook his head, and dark strands of hair fell into his eyes, “I only ever read the articles you write.”

“You’re messing with me,” I stated, crossing my arms over my chest.

“No, I’m definitely not,” he laughed.

“Name an article I wrote,” I countered. I still didn’t believe him and wanted him to prove it. I didn’t care if he read them or not, but since he claimed to I was dying to know.

“Hmm,” he thought, watching the road ahead of us, “last month you wrote an article about the merits of the plea bargain. Interesting topic choice, O’Connor.” His grin was wide when he glanced at me.

“I can’t believe you read my articles,” I shook my head in disbelief.

“Hey, I might have a pretty face,” he rubbed his jaw, “but I’m not stupid.”

“Definitely not,” I agreed, not being the least bit sarcastic.

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